6011: Should
we try to save a sick person or leave him to his fate?

Allah knows all, even events that have
not yet occured.
However what is the Islamic view of destiny or predestination. Is a man free to be the
master of his fate or is "something written" for example a person may be dying,
some will say his death is the wish of Allah and others will try to save the dying man. Is
it written or can a man write his fate himself?

Praise be to Allaah.

Everything is written and decreed, as Allaah says
(interpretation of the meaning):

“The first thing which Allaah created was the Pen. He said to it:
‘Write!’ It said, ‘O Lord, what should I write?’ He said: ‘Write
what is to happen until the Day of Resurrection.’”

According to another hadeeth:

“Allaah decreed everything for His creation fifty thousand years
before He created the heavens and the earth.”

These decrees are hidden from us and we do not know them. It is not
permissible for us to rely on this and neglect to strive and take all necessary means.
There is no contradiction between the two ideas. The Prophet
(peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) said:

“O slaves of Allaah, seek treatment but do not seek treatment in
haraam things, for Allaah has not sent down any disease without also sending down the
cure.”

And he
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) also said:

“Strive, and that for which each person was created will be made
easy for him.”

We do not know what has been decreed until after the fact. Allaah has
given us free will and freedom of choice, but we do not move beyond the framework of the
will and decree of Allaah. To sum up, there is no contradiction between trying to save a
person from death and the idea that Allaah decrees all things, which we do not know until
after they happen. And Allaah knows best.